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Jean Gillon

Although he was Romanian by birth, architect and designer Jean Gillon’s heart and soul belonged to his adopted country of Brazil. The country’s culture and revered architecture served as a muse for his mid-century furniture designs. Today Gillon ranks among the most interesting figures in Brazilian modernism, which is characterized by sensual forms and beautifully handcrafted chairs, tables and cabinets built from exotic hardwoods.

Gillon was born in Iasi and graduated from the city’s George Enescu National University of the Arts. He then moved to Paris, where he studied tapestry, worked at the newspaper Le Monde as a cartoonist and moonlighted as a set designer for the Paris Opera Ballet. He eventually left Paris for Vienna, where he studied architecture at the School of Industrial Arts, known today as the University of Applied Arts. In the early 1950s, Gillon was a visiting lecturer at London’s Central School of Arts and Crafts.

In 1956, Gillon moved with his wife and two daughters to São Paulo, where he developed a passion for Brazilian architecture, namely the work of modernists such as celebrated architect Lina Bo Bardi and designer José Zanine Caldas. Gillon took on interior decorating projects and formed the Fábrica de Móveis Cidam, which later became Italma Wood Art, in order to design furniture for his clients. Gillon’s furnishings, produced at Italma and also in collaboration with manufacturers such as Probel, were immensely popular and could be found in the planned capital city of Brasilia, a project launched in 1956 by Oscar Niemeyer.

Gillon designed everything from bowls and baskets to centerpieces, tables and other objects and furniture. However, he was best known for his lounge chairs and sofas, including his iconic Jangada chair. Named for the Portuguese word for traditional Brazilian fishing boats, the award-winning Jangada was framed in jacaranda in the late 1960s. The welcoming seat of Gillon’s visually striking trapezoidal lounge chair features plush leather cushions that are supported by nylon fishing rope.

Gillon continued to produce furniture for Italma Wood Art until he retired in 2003. He died in 2007, and today Gillon’s pieces remain highly covetable among interior designers and collectors of modern furniture.

On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Jean Gillon seating, decorative objects and serveware.

Jean Gillon Tijuca Chairs and Ottoman, a Set of 3
By Jean Gillon, Italma
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare set of Jean Gillon “Tijuca” chairs and ottoman consisting of two oversized chairs and an ottoman. These are increasingly more difficult to, e...
Category

1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Gillon

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Jean Gillon Tijuca / Amazonas Leather and Rosewood sofa for Italma
By Jean Gillon, Italma
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
Designed by Jean Gillion for Italma of Brazil in the 1970s, this 'Tijuca'' sofa features a thick leather cushion supported by an intricately woven string h...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Jean Gillon

Materials

Rosewood

Jean Gillon Jangada Lounge Chair with Ottoman, Rosewood
By Paltrona Frau, Jean Gillon, Italma, Italma Wood Art
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Highly sought after and ultimately collectible, this beautiful example of a Jean Gillon Jangada Lounge Chair and Ottoman is an EARLY model in RARE ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Jean Gillon

Materials

Leather, Rosewood

Jean Gillon "Rodeio" Easy Chair, Brazil, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Stockholm, SE
Produced in the 1960s by Wood Art Brazil.   Jean Gillon (1919–2007) was born in Lasi, Romania. In 1956, already possessing a consistent portfolio, he moved to São Paulo, where he dev...
Category

1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Gillon

Materials

Leather

Jean Gillon "Rodeio" Easy Chair, Brazil, 1960s
Jean Gillon "Rodeio" Easy Chair, Brazil, 1960s
H 27.56 in W 41.34 in D 31.5 in
Rare 'Jangada' Lounge Chair by Jean Gillon for Wood Art, Brazil, c. 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in Deland, FL
Named the "Jangada" chair, after the small rustic fishing boats used by fishermen along the northern coast of Brazil, this extraordinary armchair designed by the iconic Jean Gillon i...
Category

1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Gillon

Materials

Jacaranda

Jean Gillon Leather Paddle Arm Chairs
By Jean Gillon
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Fantastic large scale pair of Paddle leather armchairs by Jean Gillon - Brazil, circa 1960s Dark wood frame with Wide paddle shaped arms and unique large nut & bolt joinery. Buttery...
Category

1970s French Vintage Jean Gillon

Materials

Wood, Leather

Jean Gillon Leather Paddle Arm Chairs
Jean Gillon Leather Paddle Arm Chairs
H 31 in W 38.5 in D 36.25 in
1970’s Jean Gillon for Probel Brazilian Modernist Rosewood and Leather Sofa
By Jean Gillon, Probel
Located in Lutz, FL
1970’s Brazilian Modernist Taupe Leather and Rosewood Sofa designed by Jean Gillon for Probel. 3 Taupe Leather cushions, single piece cushions, right and left include armrest which d...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Jean Gillon

Materials

Metal

Jangada Chair by Jean Gillon, 1960's, Brazilian Modern
By Jean Gillon
Located in Culver City, CA
The Jangada Chair: A Brazilian Masterpiece With Stories to Tell Let’s talk about the Jangada Chair; a stunning piece of functional art that’s as much a conversation starter as it is ...
Category

1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Gillon

Materials

Leather, Rosewood

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Jean Gillon Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$1,600Lounge ChairsSuede, Oakcirca 1965
2025$6,400ChairsSuede, Wood1960s
2025$595Footstools, Ottomans and PoufsMetal, Leather, Hardwood1960s
2024$2,995Armchairs, Lounge ChairsLeather, Rosewood1960s
2024$7,500SofasLeather1975
2024$635Decorative BowlsWoodCirca 1960
2024$2,500Settees, LoveseatsLeather, Rosewoodcirca 1970
2024$325Decorative Bowls, Serving BowlsJacaranda, Rosewood1960s
2024$7,200Lounge ChairsLeather, Mahogany1960s
2024$6,500Sofa TablesRosewood1960s
2024$340BarwareBronze, Rosewood1960s
2024$1,650BookcasesRosewood1970s
2024$5,791Lounge ChairsLeather, Rosewood1970
$3,487
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$325-$7,882
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Jean Gillon

Jean Gillon furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Jean Gillon furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Jean Gillon furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Jean Gillon were created in the mid-century modern style in south america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Carlo Hauner, Móveis Cimo, and Geraldo de Barros. Prices for Jean Gillon furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $230 and can go as high as $51,995, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,500.

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